Jen Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 We need an alarm for the Camel before we head over the sea to America/Canada and I'm having trouble tracking down one that will do what we need. We need one that you can turn off the 'outside' (so we can sleep on the roof tent) but leave the inside on and also one that you can turn off completely to allow the vehicle to be taken in the container for upto 2 weeks without the alarm going off constantly! Now I seem to be having trouble getting this sort of information out of the alarm fitters in Hampshire, they can all do the sensors on and off but no-one seems to be able to answer if that alarm can do that coupled with the complete turning off (most seem to automatically re-arm after a set amount of time). I've read so many websites I'm going mad, does anyone have any recommendations of an alarm that would fit the bill that they have had good experiences with? Thanks, A-very-confused-and-frustrated Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Camels are pretty short-tempered beasts at the best of times, Don't feed it last thing at night and anyone going near it will get an eyeful of camel spit - that should put them off nicking it Les Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen Posted June 4, 2007 Author Share Posted June 4, 2007 lol! Thanks Les, didn't actually see that one coming... Another thing we'd need though it is a proximity sensor that would cover the mountian bikes on the back... < enter jokes about rear ends of Camels here > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel H Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Jen, xxx A lot of the modern alarms come with a key so that you can turn the siren off seperately, for shipping purposes etc I presum. x N. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corrode Finger Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Have you tried contacting one of the Overland prep companies such as Nene or Foley specialist vehicles? They atleast might be able to offer advice on what is available even if you do not get them to fit it due to travel distance/ time etc? They must have come across this need before? The company i used for the hybrid was Hodges Autolec Ltd in Southampton, are on Yell.com, did a good job, do not know whether they can offer better advice, they are a family company, so might get some knowledge as opposed to a spotty oik on the phone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveG Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Does it have to be an alarm for insurance purposes? If not I'd fit a meck lock from Kev at Mud Stuff much better than any alrm that can be disabled easily. It can be activated in container too. Doesn't help for the bikes though, but again I'd get a good set of locks rather than a proximity alarm. Cheers Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 You won't need an alarm on while the Camel when it's in it's box. You'll be leaving the keys in the vehicle in case Customs want to empty it. mike YES !! England is a free country. As long as you do as you are told. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landmannnn Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 I fitted a microscan alarm (200 series) a couple of years ago. It could be turned off by key on the sounder and set via the key fob so the dog did not set the alarm off. I went for a much higer spec than I needed, but it was completely trouble free and easy to install. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Baldwin Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Another website for you to look at (sorry!) but I'd try someone like Maple. They specialise in specialist Commercial Vehicle security systems (and have done for donkey's years) and are more likely to be able tailor something specifically for your Camel. The Meck Lock will immobilise your vehicle better than any electronic device while you're up in the roof tent and since it contains no electronic components, it won't flatten the vehicle battery while it's in the container. What it doesn't do however, is offer any form of 'alarm' device that alerts you if someone breaks into your vehicle. Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen Posted June 4, 2007 Author Share Posted June 4, 2007 Wow thanks guys N B) That's what I thought... amazing most companies don't seem to know. The Scooby one I had and the one on my er.. Corsa both reset after 2 min or something. Most annoying. x Paul - Good idea, will pick their brains at Eastnor this weekend Hodges fixed my Scooby alarm for £16 when I was fully expecting a bill of £100's, so will give them a ring tomorrow. Don't know why I didn't think of them before. Steve - Thanks We've already got an electrical cut off and fuel cut off (and do the good 'ol trick of putting the diff lock lever in neutral) but that might be worth a look too. The alarm is really to bring attention to the car if someone's playing with it and cover the bikes, which as you rightly state will also have a big lock on them attached to the roofrack. After seeing a battered 'L' reg for sale over there for $65,000 I'm starting to get paranoid! Mike - yeah, I want an alarm that will stay off when it's in the container (i.e. not turn itself back on again), I realise we won't be able to have it on and are subject to customs searches etc. Kev and Landmannnn - Thanks I'll check out those links, the Maple one looks quite hopeful. I love this website a-less-stressed-and-frustrated Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbeaumont Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 The Toad alarm I have on the rangie will relock the car and rearm itself after about thirty seconds if you disarm it but don't open any doors - however once you've opened a door it only arms the immobiliser automatically, after a couple of minutes. Guess that would be fine in the container. You can arm only the perimeter sensors (doors/bonnet opening) and not the ultrasonic movement sensors, which is what you'd set up by moving around on top of it, by pressing the arm button twice. Don't know if you could add anything for the bikes though. Guess that could always be a separate system? If you're fitting the alarm for insurance purposes you'll need to get it fitted by an authorised agent and get the certificate, but if you're fitting it purely for security do it yourself - as well as saving a fair bit of money you'll be able to bury it away properly and hide the immobiliser connections properly. Most alarm places will shove the unit somewhere easy to get to and cut the immobiliser into the ignition circuits in a really obvious and easily accessible place to save themselves time. It also saves the car thief any real effort bypassing it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landmannnn Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 Worth bearing in mind that whether you are fitting it yourself or paying someone else to do it that serious rough terrian will quickly find any weak points in the wiring. Ideally all electrical connections should be soldered and heat shrink tubing used to insulate the join. Next best is good quality crimp connectors using a proper crimping tool. It should then be finished using proper wrap (not insulating tape). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reads90 Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 Jen Go to sextons in Southampton. The have a few places , one round the corner from Hunters They are the best place in southampton for alarms. But on another simular note, and somthing we did on our trip Hide a set of keys on the car which you can get to if you lock the car and lose your keys. This also need to be an alarm bleep bleep thing too. Remeber you can't just get somone from home to pop some out to you with a spare set Also if you have locking wheel nuts the get a spare key. Don't want to be in the middle of nowhere and have the locking wheel nut key break and therefore can't change a tyre. Quick way to make it a bad day We had both of these above but did not use them . But i was glad i had them just incase Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen Posted June 6, 2007 Author Share Posted June 6, 2007 Thanks Geoff and Landamannn, all things worth bearing in mind. Sadly the only alarms I've found that allow us to camp on top are bloomin' expensive. Mind you, if you're going to knick a car with people on top you've gotta be pretty stupid! We've managed to get the bikes insured on our home insurance as when I initally wrote this every travel insurance provider refused to cover them due to the value Annoying. So I'm less worried about them now, as they will have large locks on them anyway connected to spare wheel carrier/roofrack. Ali - Thanks for the recommendation, will give them a call too. No locking wheel nuts so that's ok, but good idea about the keys. We've had another set cut now as we only had one, so I may get another one we can hide somewhere awkward to find I spent ages (a good 20minutes) looking for the mini keys the other day before realising I'd put them on the wing of the Landy, so loosing my keys isn't unheard of! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stumpy2268 Posted June 7, 2007 Share Posted June 7, 2007 Hi Jen, This may seem a little obvious, but I will make the comment anyway. If you are able to fit the alarm yourself, and do not need it for insurance purposes, you will at least have a knowledge of which wires have been cut, where they are routed, and possibly how to bypass the whole system in the event of a failure in the middle of nowhere. Just a thought Aid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v8bertha Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 [ Jen using Dan's computer! ] Thanks Aid, it was something we have thought of, but the insurance for the time out there is going to be horrendous enough even with the cat 1 alarm immobiliser. I rang everyone (I think!) recommended on this thread, Sextons came through with a fitter who sounded like he really knew his stuff, could answer all my questions and to top it all off is a Landy man and owns a 90 he offroads himself! B) They've booked the Camel in for the whole day so there'll be no hurry and will be able to call us with any problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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